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Grass Island (Wanim)
Anchorage · Eastern Calvados & Nimoa · Louisiade Archipelago, Papua New Guinea
Open Grass Island (Wanim) in the interactive mapHighlights
- Bagi shell-money making
- Lure fishing in the passage
- Kayaking and snorkelling round the bay
- Great views from the grassy hills
The guide
- Position
- 11°14.77'S 153°05.75'E
- Depth
- 10–15 m
- Wind shelter
- very good in SE; good in NE
- Shelter
- Always calm in SE 20 kn+; fine in NE 10-15 kn. The anchorage marked on the chart (south side) is often rolly - avoid.
- Getting in
- NE approach waypoint is mid-passage between reefs off both headlands - plenty of water if held. Reef extends on the NW.
- Bottom
- sand
- Holding
- good
- Ashore
- The houses you see from the anchorage (and the painted church) aren't the main village - that is just round the east point, where the big sailing canoes come and go. Very large village; the chief welcomes visitors. Wanim is part of the Kula ring and specialises in beautiful bagi shell money (traded for a dive mask, drill bits, pliers and paper in 2023). Big trade store (Raymon Eric, a business man across the islands) with a wharf - fuel possible. Gardens are far away, so little produce to trade. Walk or dinghy to the south end for a family with wonderful gardens (1996).
- Water
- Tap water - boil/treat for drinking; water shortages in dry years.
- Fuel
- Possibly from the store's wharf - ask.
Our sketch map
Drawn by us from OpenStreetMap, Sentinel-2 and our GPS. Not for navigation.
More in the Eastern Calvados & Nimoa
Wanim south - deep anchorageHessessai Bay / Hevaisi (Pana Tinani)Pana Tinani west - calm garden bayHati Lawi Harbour (Pana Tinani SE)Pana Tinani SE - our anchorageNimoa (Nimowa) Island - mission anchorageColman's moorings (Nimoa)Hudunuwa Passage (exit east)
⛵ Sail with us
This guide is free for everyone, sailor or not: explore the islands and watch our episodes right where they were filmed. The two of us made it from our own visits, footage and a lot of late nights over the maps.
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♥ Join us on PatreonOpen the interactive mapSources: compendium p110-111 (Maranatha 2002; Songlines 2011) · SV Obiwan / Hans / Zulu via Ryan's waypoints (2023)
Thanks to Soggy Paws PNG Compendium, Maranatha guide, SV Obiwan, Hans, SV Seagoon, other cruisers' notes (2023): their notes are summarised in our own words.
This guide is a set of personal cruising notes shared in good faith. Information can be out of date or wrong, and positions can be out by hundreds of metres. It is not a substitute for official charts and notices, your own eyes, local knowledge, or professional medical, legal or customs advice. You use it at your own risk: the skipper alone is responsible for the safety of the vessel and everyone on board, and the authors accept no liability for any loss, injury or damage arising from its use.
Thanks to Soggy Paws PNG Compendium, Maranatha guide, SV Obiwan, Hans, SV Seagoon, other cruisers' notes (2023): their notes are summarised in our own words.
This guide is a set of personal cruising notes shared in good faith. Information can be out of date or wrong, and positions can be out by hundreds of metres. It is not a substitute for official charts and notices, your own eyes, local knowledge, or professional medical, legal or customs advice. You use it at your own risk: the skipper alone is responsible for the safety of the vessel and everyone on board, and the authors accept no liability for any loss, injury or damage arising from its use.